.

General secretary Khurram Sohail Raja issued a statement expressing concern over child abduction cases in the province. PHOTO: FILE

RAWALPINDI:

The Civil Lines police have arrested a rickshaw driver for allegedly attempting to abduct a 10-year-old girl and take her to an unknown location.

According to police, the girl's father, Muhammad Amir, a resident of Dhoke Chiragh Din, told investigators that when he returned home from work, he found that his daughter had gone out to buy an ice cream but did not return.

He said the girl had informed him a few days earlier that a rickshaw driver identified as Tahir had repeatedly asked for her phone number. He had warned his daughter not to share her contact details with anyone.

After searching the neighbourhood without success, the father approached the police, expressing suspicion that the suspect had lured his daughter away. A case was registered and an investigation was launched.

Police officials said CCTV footage from the area showed the girl in the company of the rickshaw driver at a nearby shop. Acting on the evidence, investigators traced and detained the suspect for questioning.

During interrogation, the suspect disclosed that the girl had been sent towards a Metro Bus station. Police subsequently recovered the child, who was found asleep at the station.